27.03.07
Investment aid for new facilities for fishermen and fish processing at Looe, Cornwall

Looe Harbour Commissioners are set to begin construction of a new building to accommodate new fisheries facilities on Granite Quay, Looe in April this year.

Objective One Fisheries investment at over £870,000 has been made for this work to ensure the port meets the needs of the modern fishing fleet and on shore businesses. With additional investment from Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership, Cornwall County Council and the Caradon District Council the total cost of the project is over £1 million.

New facilities will include fishermen's gear stores with power supply, workspace for net making and mending, as well as marine engineering. The development also includes the construction and fitting out of three brand new high specification fish processing units. These units will meet the increasingly high quality and hygiene demands of the food industry and provide space for fish processing businesses to create new products for their customers.

The new processing units are for rental by the Looe Harbour Commissioners and they have been allocated to expanding local businesses. Businesses are building on Looe's reputation for high quality fish products such as tagged line caught sea bass and mackerel, locally caught lemon sole, squid and scallops. They are also gaining new customers in the UK and Europe from the catering and supermarket trades.

The aim of the project is to further raise the quality and provision of services and accommodation for modern fish catching and fish processing operations. Thereby putting Looe at the forefront of modern integrated fish industry development.

Armand Toms, Chairman of the Looe Harbour Commissioners stated: "This project will allow us to further improve the facilities available to the users of the port. The fishermen in particular will enjoy improved storage facilities and there will be new accommodation for ancillary services on the quayside. Also a number of fish processors will be renting the new high specification units which will enable additional quality products generated within the port to compete worldwide.

"Looking to the future, this project, in addition to the other ten projects that have been completed with assistance of Objective One funding over the last three years, will enable the port of Looe to be assured of its future as one of the significant fishing ports in England, and to maintain its reputation as a port offering top quality day-boat fish."

The building was designed to the Harbour Commissioners specifications by local architect Andrew Thomas and the contract for construction was won by Midas Construction. Richard Ellis, Divisional Manager said: "Midas is delighted to be the main contractor on this project. It is an area of expertise for us, having worked on similar projects in the past, and we are looking forward to the particular challenges of this job over the coming months. We are continuing to work closely with the Looe Harbour Commissioners, the funding bodies and the design team."

Bill Holliday, manager of the Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership explained: "The Partnership was glad to support this important and exciting development for Looe."

Further information contact Clare Leverton, Objective One Fisheries Programme Manager, on 01872 270333 or email admin@swpesca.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Granite Quay, Looe through the Financial Instruments for Fisheries Guidance Fund (FIFG).

Editor's notes:

Cornwall's Objective One Fisheries Programme has invested a total budget of over £10 million since April 2001 to the fishing industry in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The funds are a mixture of EU and national funds, through the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance fund (FIFG) and the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA).

The projects are approved by the Marine Fisheries Agency in partnership with an Objective One Fisheries Priority Management Group, made up of local fishing sector representatives. South West Pesca Ltd helps applicants to develop projects by providing guidance and help on completing application forms and submitting applications.

So far 275 projects have been approved through this process with £7,699,202 of funds committed to these projects. Up to 40% (35% EU and 5% National) grants are available for the private sector projects and 75% grants for the public sector projects.

Examples of projects funded by the Objective One Programme:

Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership is a public private partnership whose focus is to develop the rural economy and communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The RCP is contracted by South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) to deliver the Rural Renaissance and the Modernising Rural Delivery initiatives on their behalf. For more info see www.ruralcornwall.co.uk or phone Bill Holliday 01872 322860 or email bill.holliday@cornwallenterprise.co.uk.

Looe Harbour Commissioners can be contacted via the Harbour Office, East Looe, PL13 1DX 01503 262839. The Harbour Office expects the contractors to start on site in mid April when scaffolding and fencing will be put up. The contract includes the demolition of the existing Granite Quay building to make way for the new development which will be in keeping with other buildings on East Looe waterfront.

Midas Construction can be contacted via Jackie Novels at:
JBP Public Relations
t: 0117 907 3400
f: 0117 907 3417
m: 07900 904707
w: jbp.co.uk
e: jackie@jbp.co.uk

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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